Some of the biggest challenges came from the unusual nature of the property. Ehrlich already owned a house on the street. When the lot next door became available, he bought it and called on Friedman and Kimm to design the new house as guest quarters for visiting family and friends, some of whom...

Some of the biggest challenges came from the unusual nature of the property. Ehrlich already owned a house on the street. When the lot next door became available, he bought it and called on Friedman and Kimm to design the new house as guest quarters for visiting family and friends, some of whom... (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The main house and a guest house in Santa Monica are integrated by a powerful open landscape that includes a new salt water pool, a wood deck that serves as an arresting bridge between the two structures, and a new outdoor dining terrace, which is topped with photovoltaic panels.

The main house and a guest house in Santa Monica are integrated by a powerful open landscape that includes a new salt water pool, a wood deck that serves as an arresting bridge between the two structures, and a new outdoor dining terrace, which is topped with photovoltaic panels. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Craig Ehrlich didn't particularly want a modern house. But everything he valued — light, air, indoor-outdoor living, sustainable building materials — has led to this: a recently completed 1,150-square-foot house in Santa Monica that feels much larger thanks to its modern...